Gen Z’s attitude towards relationships has changed drastically compared to the generations before them. The evolution of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can contribute to unrealistic perceptions of love and relationships. Obsession with social media has presented idealised versions of people’s lives, which highly raised the expectation of love.

Unrealistic expectations in relationships can manifest in various ways, often rooted in attachment styles that are anxious-avoidant or insecure rather than secure and balanced. To help you understand and address these expectations, we'll explore strategies for fostering safer and more reasonable connections.

One significant factor driving unrealistic expectations is the practice of "going public" on social media. Scrolling through images and posts of seemingly blissful couples can create feelings of inadequacy and envy. This, in turn, can erode one's self-esteem and make it challenging to appreciate the authentic, imperfect qualities of one's own relationships, ultimately diminishing partner satisfaction.

Another modern phenomenon known as Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) has emerged in recent years. Witnessing others showcase their relationships online can foster a persistent fear that others are experiencing greater excitement, novelty, or fulfilment, leading individuals to question their own relationship choices. The constant comparisons fueled by social media's illusion of endless possibilities can induce restlessness and discontent. Constant comparisons generated by social media and the perception of an infinite number of possibilities can lead to restlessness and discontent.

In reality, people on social media are mostly just filtering off the positive aspects of their relationship and hiding the negativity. They keep the challenges and difficulties of their relationship private to create a “perfect” image of the love they are having. This can paint a distorted view and create the illusion that love should always go smoothly and conflict-free.

By knowing all this, we should stop comparing our lives to our people and respect the relationships that we have. Healthy relationships need honesty, trust, respect, and open communication between partners, as well as work and compromise on both sides. There is no power disparity. Partners respect each other's independence, are free to make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation and make decisions together.

In conclusion, not everything on social media is an accurate representation of reality. Healthy, authentic relationships have ups and downs, necessitating effort, compromise, and communication. Individuals should approach social media with a critical eye and a fair dose of scepticism, as what is portrayed online is frequently a selective and romanticised image of someone's life. Building and maintaining genuine, lasting connections necessitates a level of knowledge and dedication that goes beyond what is available on social media.

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